I just got a call from my taxidermist that the skull for my bear was finished. Being that it has been 3 years since I shot it, I had almost forgotten about it. There was a pretty cool story behind it and figured I would post it here as I managed to get the pictures as well. I live in lenoir county NC where we just got a bear season 5 years ago. There is a pretty substantial catch to our season. When this bear was shot the season was only a week long, and you are not allowed to bait at all which makes taking a bear without dogs next to impossible. So I was actually deer hunting on the edge of a field. It was getting late and this bear popped out about 80 yards from me and laid down in the field. It was the first time I had one that wasn't passing through, I knew there would be no deer around, so I decided to mess with it. It took out my grunt call which has different areas you can pinch and change to tone, and started bellowing like an injured fawn. Everytime I would make a call she would sit up like a dog and look but never move. Finally about the 5th time she got up and started going back the way she came. Well the field takes a hard right and comes to a point, which is where I was sitting. She got to the wood line and followed the edge of the field to 17 yards, where I put a shaft right in her neck, after which she made the most God aweful sound I have ever heard. She went about 120 yards and piled up. Any way, I am currently waiting on a half mount to be finished. I figured how often would it be that you call in a black bear and shoot it with archery equipment in a place where you can't bait and there is only a 1 week season. A trophy in my book.

Tipsntails7 wrote:Nice bear and congrats. But please from now on shoot things behind the front shoulder, on bear their vitals actually sit a bit farther back then that.

Thanks. I am an avid bowhunter, been hunting with it for 15 years now and have taken many deer with my bow. The neck shot was the only shot I was given, but that is not the most important point. The most important point is that I was very comfortable taking that shot at 17 yards, and I may add that it was pretty vital. I would most definitely have rather had a shot at the lungs but under the circumstances that wasn't an option.